Operating means



Aug. 17 1926.

A.H.STEBENS OPERATING MEANS Filed June 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 17 1926. A. H. STEBBINS OPERAT I NG MEANS Filed June 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNI- T ED ST ATES ALBERT STEBBINS, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- OP'ER'ATING MEANS.

Application filed me 9, 1925. Serial No. 35,9;4.

This invention relatesto novel means for imparting a. progressive movement to con.- centrator decks, screens and other frames supported for Vibratory movement.

It has been proposed heretofore. to provide power operatedfimeans for moving a vibratory frame in one direction and spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction, but in these prior constructions, in order to produce a progressive movement the. spring means has served to move the frame'in the forward or progressive direction and the power means. hasserved either to check the movement of the frame suddenly, or to impart a quick initial movement to the frame in the opposite direction.

The operating mechanism of the present invention differs from the operating mechanism proposed heretofore, in that in the present construction the power operating means is constructed to move the frame in the forward or progressive direction with an increasing speed, and the spring operat ing' means serves to impart a quick initial movement to the frame in the opposite. direction. It is this quick initial movement imparted to the frame by a strong spring that serves in the present construction to advance the materials being treated along the concentrator deck, screen or other frame, and the present arrangement of the operating spring permits the use of an extremely simple form of power operating means to produce a progressive m0vement..

One important feature of the present in vention, therefore, resides in mechanism for producing a progressive, vibratory movement and consists of power actuated means for moving a frame in the forward or progressive direction, and in spring means for imparting a quick initial movement to the frame in the opposite direction.

The power operating means preferably serves not only to move the frame in the forward direction with an accelerated move' ment, but also to release the frame quickly so that it may move suddenly in the opposite direction under the action of the spring.

Another feature of the invention, therefore, resides in a flexible connection for opera-ting the frame and in means for displacing a portion of the flexibleconnection laterally to pull the frame in the forward direction and for releasing said displaced por- "eentrator provided with means constructed in accordance with the present invention for imparting a progressive vibratory move ment to the deck;

Fig. 2 is. a top plan view of Fig. 1, 'the deck being removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of parts of the operating mechanism. Fig. i is a side elevation of a vibratory frame provided with a modified type of operating means; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a machine such as shown in Fig. 4: provided with still a different form of operating means.

The operating means of the present invention may be employed to impart a pro. gressive vibratory movement to concentrator decks, screens or other frames, and in Figs. 1 and 2 the operating means is shown as mounted upon a concentrator table to in part the desired progressive movement to the concentrator deck.

The concentrator table may be, of any well-known or preferred construction, and the supporting frame consists of longitudinally extending beams secured to up rights 11 and the opposite sides of the supporting frame are held in spaced relation by transversely extending bars 12. Upon the supporting frame is mounted the deck supporting carriage 13 upon which is mount ed the deck 14. The means for supporting the carriage for back and forth movement may be variously constructed, and as shown comprises a well known type of supporting means which will impart a slight upthrcw movement to the carriage as it moves back and forth. The supporting means has transversely extending shafts 15 disposed near the opposite ends of the main frame, and mounted in bearing brackets 16 secured to the upper face of the main frame. The opposite ends of the shafts 15 are provided with downwardly extending arms 17 which are provided at their lower ends with the laterally extending stub shafts 18, and these stub shafts are journaled in bearing brackets 19 secured to the under face of the carriage 13.

The materials to be treated are delivered to the deck 14 by the hopper 20, and they travel lengthwise of the deck in a right hand direction, viewing Fig. 1, under the action of the progressive movement to be described. Air under pressure is delivered to the deck by a fan 21 the discharge end 22 of which is connected to the deck by a flexible connection 23.

The means of the present invention for imparting a progressive movement to a frame may be variously constructed, and the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will now be described. The deck and carriage are normally urged in a'lefthand direction by a strong spring 24 which operates upon a cable 25 to pull the deck and carriage in the left hand direction. The end of the cable 25 to which the spring 24 is connected is conveniently inserted in a threaded tube 26 and the cable may be rigidly secured in the tube by depositing hot lead about the end of the cable within the tube. One end of the coiled spring 24 rests against a transversely extending beam 12 which beam may have a hole therein to slidably receive the tube 26, and the other end of the spring 24 may rest against a nut 27 having threaded engagement with the outer end of the tube 26. An intermediate portion of the cable 25 passes about a grooved sheave 28 that is rotatably supported by the transversely extending shaft 29, and the opposite end of the cable 25 may be secured within a threaded tube 30 which tube extends thru a flange plate 31 that may be rigidly secured to a transversely extending beam 32 secured to the carriage 13, and nuts 33 having threaded engagement with the tube 30 ,serve to secure the tube in different positions of adjustment within the flange plate 31.

Means is provided for positively pulling the carriage 13 in a right-hand direction and consists of a cable 34 one end of which is setured within the threaded tube 35 similar to the tube 30 and the tube 35 is adjustably mounted within a flange plate 36 in the manner just described. An intermediate portion of the cable 34 passes about a grooved sheave 37 rotatably supported by the transversely extending shaft 33 and the lower end of the cable 34 is secured to a pair of spaced links 39, the lower ends of which links are pivotally secured to fixed brackets 40 by the pivot shaft 41. The connection between the lower end of the cable 34 and upper end of the links 39 may be variously constructed, and in the embodiment shown, as will be apparent from Fig. 3, the lower end of the cable 34 is looped about a grooved spool or which are journaled on the shaft 43 and are disposed at the opposite sides of the grooved spool 42. In order to supply a lubricant to the bearing surfaces upon the shaft 43, this shaft is conveniently provided with a lubricant passage 46 formed centrally therein, and the lubricant may be supplied to this passage by a grease cup 47 secured to one end of the shaft 43.

The arrangement of the cable 34 and links 39 is such that when the deck 14 is at the left hand end of its path of travel the link 39 occupies the vertical position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and in order to pull the deck in a right hand direction, the links 39 and cable connected thereto are displaced laterally so that they occupy the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. might be provided for pulling the links 39 from the full line position to the dotted line position, and in the construction shown this Various means is accomplished by a cable 48 one end of which is secured to the yoke 44, and the opposite end is adjustably secured to a transversely extending beam 49 of the main frame. An intermediate portion of the cable 48 is looped about a grooved ring 50 which is mounted upon an eccentric 51 secured to the main driving shaft 52. This shaft is journaled in bearing brackets secured to the main frame and the shaft may be driven by a belt passing about the fly wheel 53. The eccentric 51 rotates within the grooved ring 50 to move the latter to and from the cable tensioning position, and anti-friction balls or rollers 54 are preferably provided between the eccentric and ring 50.

From the construction described it will be seen that as the eccentric 51 rotates it will alternately tension the cable 48 to pull the links 39 to the dotted line position of Fig. 1, and then slack off the cable to permit the links to move to the full line position, under the action of the compressed spring 24. If desired a light spring 55 having one end anchored to the supporting frame, and the other end secured to the links 39, may be provided to urge the links in a right-hand direction to take up any slack that may occur in the operating cables.

It is important to note that the movement imparted to the deck 14 as the links 39 are moved to their dotted line position will be an accelerated movement because as the links begin to move from their vertical position they will pull the deck 14 in a right-hand direction relatively slowly, but the speed of this movement will rapidly increase as the links 39 are displaced from their vertical position.

It is also important to note that as the wearer; 3

linksare permitted toret urn from the dotted line position to the full line position they will permit the deck 14 to moverapidly in a left-hand direction under the action of the compressed spring 2t as the links start towards their vertical position, and the movement of the deck in a left-hand direction will slow down as the links approach their vertical position. i

The variable speed operating mechanism described permits the compressed spring 2-4 to impart a quick initial movement to the deck 14 in a left-hand direction at the moment the deck reverses its direction of travel at the right-hand end of its stroke, and this quick movement impartedto the deck by the spring serves to impart the desired progressive movement in a right-hand direc tion to the'materials being treated by the deck The inner ends of the tubes and are preferably connected by a turn buckle 56 which is secured in the desired position of adjustment by lock nuts 57- and this turn buckle serves to transmit the pull directly from one op erating cable to the other. The

' length of the various cables may be adjusted as desired by adjusting the nuts shown, and since the arms 1'? which support the carriage and deck serve to impart an upthrow movement to the deck, this movement may be varied as desired by operating the ad j-usting' nuts 33 to vary the connection between the upper ends of the cables 25'and 34 and the carriage 13 The fly wheel or pulley 53 is preferably made relatively heavy so that it will impart smooth rotary movement to the eccentric 51. It should be noted that since the cable 48 is looped about the operating eccentric and one end of this cable is anchored to the brace 49, the amount of movement imparted to the other end of this cable will be double the eccentric throw, thus permitting the use of an eccentric having a small eccentric throw.

In Fig. 4t amodii'ied form of operating means is shown, and in this figure the oper ating means serves to impart a progressive movement to a screen 58 rather than to a deck, as in Figs. 1 and 2, altho the operating means may be employed to impart a vibratory movement to any type of frame. The frame 58 is supported for movement back and forth in the dircction'of its length by means similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and the screen 58 is urged in the left-hand direction by a cable 59 looped about a grooved sheave GO and one end of this cable is secured to the screen by clamping means 61, while the opposite. end of this cable is secured to a shaft 62 having a strong spring 63 mounted thereupon and confined between a brace ea which supports the shaft and an adjustable nut at the outer end of the shaft".- he means shown for positively mo ing the screen 58 in right-hand direction consists of a lever 66 pivotally' mounted upon a shaft 67 mounted upon the supporting frame, and the upper end of this lever is connected to the frame 58 by a link 68 which is pivotally secured to a bracket 69 secured to the under face of the frame.

The means shown in Fig. 4 for rocking the lever 66' in a clockwise direction consists of cable 70 having one end secured to the 7 lower end of this lever and the cable passes over two idle sheaves 71 and 72 which are mounted in spaced relation to each other and are rotatably supported by the shafts 73 and 74;.

The opposite end of the cable 0 is anchored to the main frame at 75. The means shown in Fig. 4 for tensioning the cable 7 0 so that it will rock the lever 66 in a clockwise direction consists of an eccentric Y6 mounted upon the operating shaft 77 and this eccentric rotates within a grooved ring 7 8 the same as in Fig. 1. is such that the eccentric 76 servesto force the cable 70 from th dotted line position of Fig. l to the full line position and then release the cable so that it may return to the dotted line position. The eccentric 76 serves to deflect the portion of the cable 70 lying between the spaced sheaves 71 and T2 a substan'tial amount, as will be apparent from the drawing, and it is important to note that the speed at which the lever 68 is rocked increases-as the deflection of the cable 70 is increased, the same as described in connection with Fig. 1, and as a result the screen 58 is moved in a right-hand direction with a gradually increasing speed, andas soon as the screen makes the turn at the right ha'n end of its path of travel, it is moved in the opposite direction with a quick initial movement which gradually slows down as the screen approaches the left-hand end of its path of travel. As a result the quick initial movement imparted to the screen 58 by the compressed spring 63 imparts a progressive movement to the materi l's upon the screen in the manner above described, to advance the materials in a right-hand direction along the screen. 7

In order to cause the movement that is imparted to'the screen 18 to be accelerated to a substantial degree, it is necessary that the eccentric 76 impart a pronounced lateral displacement to the cable 70 as shown.

The amount of movemei'it thus imparted to the free end of the cable 70 may be greater than it is desired to impart to the screen 58, and in order to reduce the amplitude of the movement imparted to the screen 58 the lever 66- may be provided with lower arm wnich is much longer than its upper arm, will be apparent from Fig. 4. A spring 79 having one end anchored to the main frame and the other end connected to the lower The arrangement end of the lever 66 may be provided to take up any slack that may occur in the cable 70.

In Fig. 5 a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, and in this figure the screen 58 may be urged in a lefthand direction by a cable having one end secured to the screen and the other end connected to a spring, the same as in Fig. 1. The means for pulling the screen 58 in a right-hand direction comprises a lever 80 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 81 and the upper end of this lever is connected to the screen 58 by a link 82 the same as in Fig. 4. The lever 80 is rocked in a clockwise direction by the cable 81, one end of which is secured to the lower end of this lever, and the opposite end of this cable is connected to the upper ends of a pair of links 82 which may be similar in construction and operation to the links 89 of Fig. 1. An intermediate portion of the cable 81 passes around the idle sheave 84. The lower ends of the links 82 are pivotally secured to a shaft 83 and the cable 81 is secured to the upper end of these links by a transverse ly extending shaft, the same as in Fig. 1. The spaced links 82 are moved from the full line position of Fig. 5 to,the dotted line position by a cable .85 which is looped about a grooved ring 86 mounted upon the eccentrio 87 which is driven by the main shaft 88, and the lower portion of the cable 85 may be looped about an idle sheave 89 and the lower end of this cable is secured to the main frame at 90.

As the sheave 87 rotates it will move the links 82 from the full line to the dotted line position the same as in Fig. 1, and this will serve to rock the lever 80 in a clockwise direction, and as the cable 85 is slacked off by the eccentric 87, the screen 58 will be quickly moved in a left-hand direction by the compressed spring 63. A light spring 91 having one end anchored to the machine frame and the other end connected to the lower end of the lever 80 serves to take up any slack that might occur in the cable 81. A similar light spring 92 having one end anchored to the machine frame and the other end secured to the links 82 serves to take up slack in the cable 85.

In each of the modifications shown it will be seen that the deck, screen or supporting frame is moved in a right-hand direction at a gradually increasing speed by the power operative means and that as soon as the movementin this direction is completed, the deck, screen or frame has a quick initial movement imparted to the same in the opposite direction by the compressed spring to advance the materials in a right-hand direction.

As stated springs have been used here tofore to impart an accelerated forward movement to a vibratory screen, but by reversing the action of the spring in accordance with the present invention an extremely simple form of power actuated means may be employed to produce the desired progressive movement.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive back and forth movement to the frame, comprising a cable anchored at one end and having its other end connected to the movable frame, an eccentric for deflecting a portion of the cable laterally to pull the frame in the forward or progressive direction with an increasing speed, and spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction with a quick initial movement that decreases in speed. as the frame approaches the opposite end of its path of travel.

2. In combination with a frame supported for back and fort-h movement, operating means for imparting a progressive vibratory movement to the frame, comprising a flexible connection for pulling the frame with an accelerated movement in the forward or progressive direction and having one end connected to the frame and its other end anchored, power actuated means for oleflecting a portion of the flexible connection from its straight line position so that the speed of movement imparted to the frame will increase as the flexible connection approaches the position of maximum deflection and decreases as the flexible connection approaches the straight line position, and spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction with a speed that decreases as the flexible connection approaches its straight line position.

8. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive back and forth movement to the frame, comprising a flexible connection for pulling the frame with an accelerated movement in the for ward or progressive direction and having one end connected to the frame and its other end secured to a fixed support, power actuated means for deflecting an intermediate portion of the flexible connection from its straight line position so that the speed of movement imparted to the frame will increase as the flexible connection approaches the position of maximum deflection and decreases as the flexible connection approaches the straight line position, and spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction with a negative acceleration as the flexible connection is slacked off by its move ment to said straight line position.

4. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive back and forth movement to the frame, comprising a cable connected to said frame, means for deflecting a portion of said cable laterally to pull the frame in the forward or progressive direction with an increasing speed, and spring actuated means for moving the framein the opposite direction with a quick initial movement that gradually decreases in speed as the deflected portion of said cable approaches its normal position.

5. In, combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive back and forth movement to the frame, comprising a cable connected to said frame, an eccentric for deflecting a portion of said cable latorally to pull the frame in the forward or progressive direction with an increasing speed, and spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction with a quick initial movement that gradually decreases in speed as the deflected portion of said cable approaches its normal position.

6. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive movement to the frame, comprising a cable having one end connected to said frame and its other end secured to a fixed support, an eccentric positioned'to operate against an in-. termediate portion of said cable to displace said portion laterally and cause maximum speed of movement to be imparted to the frame as the portion of the cable approaches its maximum displacement, and means for moving the frame in the opposite direction with a quick initial movement that gradually decreases in speed as the frame approaches the opposite end of its path of travel.

7. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive move ment to the frame, comprising a cable having one end connected to said frame and its other secured to a fixed support, an eccentric operable to displace an intermediate portion of said cable laterally to cause maximum speed of movement to be imparted to the frame as the cable approaches its position of maximum displacement, and spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction as the eccentric recedes from its cable displacing position and adapted to impart a quick initial movement to the frame that gradually decreases in speed as the frame approaches the opposite end of its path of travel.

8. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for imparting a progressive back and forth movement to the frame, comprising, a flexible connection connected to the frame, an eccentric acting upon said connection to move the frame with increasing speed in the forward or progressive direction, spring means for moving the frame in the opposite direction with a quick initial movement that decreases in speed as the frame approaches the opposite end of its path of travel, and a rocking lever interposed between said flexible connection and frame for reducing the amplitude of the movement imparted to the frame.

9. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame, comprising a flexible connection having one end connected to the frame and the other end secured to a fixed support, a sheave about which an interme diate portion of the flexible connection extends, power actuated means operable upon the flexible connection at a point adjacent said sheave and adapted to displace the flexible connection laterally to a substantial de gree to produce a. substantial bend in the same to thereby pull the flexible connection in the direction of its length so that it will pull the frame in one direction, and means for moving the frame in'the opposite direc tion as the laterally displacing force upon the flexible connection is relieved.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT H. STEBBINS. 

